Electric clock



May 19, 1936. J BERT 2,041,395

ELECTRIC CLOCK Filed Sept. 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR fasephBerti Gamma A ORI lEY Patented May 19, 19 36 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEELECTRIC CLOCK ration of New York Application September 5, 1934, SerialNo. 742,753

7 Claims.

This invention relates to electric clocks and the like.

The objects of the invention are to provide simple and inexpensive clockmechanism, which will be accurate and reliable, which will consist ofbut few and simple parts and in which the electrical mechanism will takeup but small space, will be positive in its action and will be capableof storing energy for driving the clock train or other apparatus for anextended period of time.

The foregoing and other desirable objects are attained by the novelfeatures of construction, combinations and relations of parts set forthin the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand broadly covered in the claims.

The drawings illustrate certain practical embodiments of the invention,but it will be appreciated as the invention is understood that thestructure may be modified and changed in various ways, all within thetrue intent and broad scope of the invention.

Figure 1 is an embodiment of the invention as applied to the backmovement plate of a clock, with the top plate broken away to disclosethe gearing and with the Winding mechanism in an intermediate position.

Figure 2 is a broken detail illustrating the parts at the instant ofclosing the switch to energize the solenoid.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the parts as they appear after thesolenoid has acted and the energizing circuit has been interrupted.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the parts appearing in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged broken sectional detail of the solenoid and itscontact making core.

Figure 6 is a broken sectional detail of the ratchet wheel and themainspring lever.

Figure 7 is a broken detail illustrating a modification.

In the general views, Figures 1, 2 and 3, one of the main plates of theclock is indicated at l, carrying the escapement end of the clock trainat 8.

The power for driving the entire clock train in the present inventionconsists of a simple tension spring 9, connected to a lever H3, having adrivepawl ll engaging ratchet IE on an arbor I3, this arbor carrying thecenter wheel Hi, engaging the reduction pinion t5, which through theintermediate wheel l5 drives the pinion ll of the escapement train.

The mainspring lever ID has a slotted engagement at l8 with a pin isprojecting from the core 26 of the solenoid magnet 2|.

A special feature of the connecting pin I9 is that it is insulated fromthe core, as by being set in an insulating bushing 22. There is thusprovided an electrically insulated mechanical connection between thesolenoid core and the mainspring lever.

The core itself is electrically insulated from the movement plate i andparts mounted thereon, as 10 by a construction such as illustrated inFigure 5, where the metallic center tube 23 in which the core slides isinsulated from surrounding parts by the turns of the insulated coil 24and the insulating end heads 25. The clamp 23 which secures the coil onthe movement plate engages about the insulated winding or about aninsulating cover over said winding. Thus, the solenoid is supported ininsulated relation on the mounting plate and both the tube and thesleeve in which it is 20 guided, remain insulated from the mountingplate.

One end of the solenoid winding is brought out to an insulated terminal,indicated at 2'1 in Fig- 25 ures 1 and 5, and the latter view shows howthe opposite end of the winding is electrically connected with theinsulated core sleeve at 28, so as to bring the core into the magnetcircuit. To assure good sliding contact between the core and guidesleeve, there is provided in the illustration, a small spring pressedbrush 29 in the core, lightly contacting the surrounding wall of theguide. The reaction of this spring tends also to hold the side of thecore opposite the protruding brush in light sliding contact with thewall of the guide, doubly assuring good electrical sliding contactbetween core and guide.

To close circuit through the sliding core, there is provided in thepresent disclosure, a swinging lever 36, pivoted at 3| on the outermounting plate 32 and swung in opposite directions by a spring 33, tocarry one arm 34 of the forked end of the same into engagement withinsulated pin IE3, or the opposite arm 35 into engagement with 45contact pin 36. The latter is not insulated from the core, andconsequently, when engaged by the arm 35, closes circuit through themovement plate on which the switch lever is mounted, completingelectrical connections for the solenoid, substan- 50 tially as indicatedin Figure 2.

When circuit is closed as described, the solenoid immediately draws downthe core, the pin 36 acting against arm 35, maintaining this circuitmomentarily until a point is reached Where the spring 33, passing overthe dead center position represented by the pivot center 3|, will snapthe switch lever downward into the position indicated in Figure 3, whichmovement is limited by the upper fork 34 engaging insulating pin [9.

In the outward movement of the core, under pull of the main spring 9,the insulated pin l9, by engagement with the upper fork 34, forces theswitch lever upwardly until the spring 33, passing over the dead centerrepresented by pivot 3|, snaps the switch lever upwardly, back into thecircuit closed position indicated in Figure 2. The circuit is thus bothclosed and interrupted with a snap action, assuring quick break and firmpositive make.

The moment of circuit closing and energization of the magnet isdeterminable in the present disclosure by adjusting the anchorage pointof the switch throwing spring, by shifting the spring anchorage bracket31 beneath the securing screw 38 and by shifting fork 34 in its securedrelation beneath the screw 39. Either one or both adjustments may beused, as found desirable, and in some instances, with all factorsproperly worked out, one or both these adjustments may be eliminated.

The long stroke afforded by the solenoid provides a longer running timethan can be attained by ordinary short stroke electromagnets. This longstroke also is desirable to effect the snap toggle action of the switchlever. In the short instant of time in which the solenoid is acting, thepawl 46 holds the ratchet l2.

A practical and at present preferred mounting of the mainspring lever isindicated in Figure 6, where this lever is shown as pivoted on theextended bushing 4| of the ratchet wheel 12, between a fixed abutmentcollar 42 and an antifriction washer 43, loose at the face of theratchet. The insulated pin I9 is shown in Figure 4, as extended inopposite directions to the mainspring lever ID at one side and theforked switch lever 30 at the opposite side, which balances to someextent, the forces acting on the core, enabling it to slide smoothly inthe guide sleeve. By placing the core in the magnet circuit, all wiringis avoided and by making the pin 36 serve as the insulated switchcontact and the spring toggle lever as the grounded switch contact, theclock can be connected in circuit in an automobile, for instance, bysimply bringing a wire on the live or ungrounded side of the battery tothe one magnet terminal 21.

The mechanism consists in all of but few simple parts easily assembledand occupying but small space. A solenoid of relatively small sizeprovides ample power for tensioning the spring sufliciently to run thegearing a considerable period of time. The movement of the switch toggleis made positive and direct by action of the abutment pins on thearmature of the magnet.

The insulating of the solenoid core from other parts may be accomplishedin various ways. Thus, the pin I9 might be set in the metal of the coreand sleeves of insulating material he slipped over the ends of the pinprotruding from opposite sides of the core. Instead of two pins, one pinonly might be provided and the adjustable fork 34 be a piece ofinsulating material so as to carry no current when in contact with thepin. In place of the forked switch lever, a more orless straight levermight be employed, disposed to oscillate between the two pins orabutments on the solenoid core. Other changes may suggest themselvestruly within the scope of the invention.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure '7, a straight ornon-forked switch lever is indicated at 35a having a single contact armdesigned to be snapped into engagement with the contact pin 36, saidlever being carried along with the core by a yoke extension 44 of theinsulated pin 13, until the dead center position of the spring toggle ispassed in the upward or outer movement of the core. This single armconstruction permits a longer stroke of the solenoid and henceaccomplishes a longer running time of the movement.

The member 44 which travels along with the core and mainspring lever Il]may in fact be carried by the latter, positioned so as to effect thesnap-over of the switch lever at the proper instant in the out movementof the core and lever. A back stop for the mainspring lever may beprovided, such as the abutment pin indicated at 45. This pin comes intoservice when the magnet is disconnected from or the source ofelectricity is interrupted for any reason, permitting the movement toentirely run down, forming at such time a back stop for the lever andpreventing the mainspring from drawing the core out of the solenoid.

It will be seen in Fig. 1 that as the main spring 9 draws the lever 10,upwardly in driving the movement train, the core 26 connected with thatlever will be drawn upwardly out of the solenoid winding 2|, and that inthis outward movement the insulated pin 22, by engagement with the upperfork 34, of the spring toggle lever 36, will rock that lever untilspring 33 passes over the dead center 3|, whereupon the latter springwill snap this lever upwardly as in Fig. 2, to bring the lower fork 35,of said lever into engagement with the contact pin 36. When this occurs,an energizing circuit for the solenoid is established beginning with theinsulated terminal 21, which is usually connected with the ungroundedside of the battery, through the coil and from the inner end of the coilat 28, Fig. 5, to the metallic solenoid sleeve 23, the spring connection29 to the sliding core 20, the contact pin 36 on that core, to the fork35 of switch lever 30. This lever is pivoted on the movement plate andthe movement being grounded as customary, circuit is completed to thegrounded side of the battery. The coil when thus energized draws in thecore 20 and in so doing, the switch lever 30 is carried along by pin 36,acting against fork 35 until a point is reached where the toggle spring33, again passes the dead center 3| and snaps the switch lever downwardas in Fig. 3, carrying the lower fork 35, out of current carryingcontact with the pin 36, and bringing the upper fork 34, back again intoengagement with the insulated pin 22. The circuit making and breakingoperations and the spring tensioning action of the solenoid arepractically instantaneous. The operation then continues as firstdescribed, with the core moving outward under pull of the main spring,successively through the stages indicated in Figs. 3 and 1, until theswitch lever is again snapped over to close circuit as in Fig. 2. Theaction of the form of the device illustrated in Fig. 7, is the same insubstance as that described, it being apparent that the switch leverwill be carried along in the outward movement of the core until thespring 33, passes over dead center and causes said leverto close circuitby contact of the portion 35a with pin 36, on the core. In the inwardmovement of the core, the switch lever 30, is

snapped away from this contact pin into engagement with the insulatedcore-carried element 44, by passage of spring 33, below the dead centerrepresented by pivot 3|.

What is claimed is:

1. Electric clock or similar mechanism, comprising in combination,-aspring tensioned lever, a solenoid, .a core actuated by said solenoid,an insulating connection between said core and said spring tensionedlever, means for connecting said core in circuit with the solenoid, acontact element on said core and a spring toggle switch lever having apart in cooperative relation to said contact element on the solenoidcore.

2. An electric clock or similar apparatus, comprising in combination, asolenoid having an insulated center tube of conducting material andhaving its winding electrically connected at one end with said centertube, a core slidingly guided in said tube, a lever connected with saidcore, a spring acting on said lever, a switch lever, a contact on thecore for cooperation with said switch lever and a spring for snappingsaid switch lever into and out of cooperation with said contact atdifferent points in the travel of said core.

3. An electric clock or similar apparatus, comprising in combination, asolenoid having an insulated center tube of conducting material andhaving its winding electrically connected at one end with said centertube, a core slidingly guided in said tube, a lever connected with saidcore, a spring acting on said lever, a switch lever, a contact on thecore for cooperation with said switch lever, a spring for snapping saidswitch lever into and out of cooperation with said contact at differentpoints in the travel of said core and a spring brush providingcontinuous electrical contact between said solenoid tube and the coreguided therein.

4. An electric clock or similar mechanism, comprising in combination, asolenoid, a core operated thereby and in the electrical circuit of saidsolenoid, an insulated and an uninsulated pin on said core, a lever inconnection with said insulated pin and a spring actuated oscillatingswitch lever cooperable at diiferent times with said insulated anduninsulated pins on the core.

5. Electromagnetic spring winding means, comprising in combination aspring actuated lever, a solenoid provided with a metallic center tubeand having one end of the solenoid winding electrically connected withsaid center tube, a core slidingly guided in and electrically connectedwith said center tube, insulated and uninsulated abutments on said core,said insulated abutment having mechanical engagement with said springactuated lever, a toggle lever having fork arms cooperable with saidinsulated and uninsulated abutments and a spring connected to snap saidtoggle lever in opposite directions at predetermined points in thetravel of said solenoid core in opposite directions.

6. An electric clock or like, comprising in combination with a drivingspring, a member shifted thereby in one direction, a magnet having anarmature connected with said member for shifting the same in theopposite direction, a magnet contact movable with said armature andshiftable member, a switch lever mounted for engagement with saidcontact and means traveling with said armature and shiftable member forcarrying said switch lever into engagement with said magnet contact, anda pivot pin connecting said armature and shiftable member, said pivotpin having an extension forming the means for shifting the switch leverinto engagement with the magnet contact.

7. Electromagnetic spring winding means, comprising in combination, asolenoid having an insulated center tube of conducting material andhaving its winding electrically connected at one end with saidconducting center tube, a terminal for the opposite end of the solenoidwinding, a solenoid core operating in said tube, spring means formingresilient electrical connection between said conducting center tube andsolenoid core, a contact on the end of the solenoid core, a spring leverengageable by said core carried contact and means for establishingelectric circuit connections with said spring lever and said Windingterminal aforesaid.

JOSEPH BERTI.

